26) Environmental Law

Question 1

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)

Answer 1

A statute providing for cleanup of inactive waste sites that release hazardous substances into the environment

Question 2

Superfund

Answer 2

A fund established by CERCLA to provide a source of funds for cleaning up hazardous waste sites; also called the Hazardous Substances Response Fund.

Question 3

National Contingency Plan (NCP)

Answer 3

Provides a step-by-step procedure that must be followed in carrying out a removal action or remedial action at a site.

Question 4

Potentially Responsible Party (PRP)

Answer 4

A person covered by the law from whom response costs are sought.

Question 5

Innocent Landowner Defense

Answer 5

A defense under the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) that covers landowners who obtain contaminated land without knowledge of the contamination.

Question 6

Natural Resource Damages

Answer 6

An affirmative obligation on federal and state governments to seek to recover damages caused by the release of a hazardous substance.

Question 7

Brownfields

Answer 7

Former industrial sites in urban communities that have fallen into disuse and decay.

Question 8

Clean Water Act

Answer 8

A statute whose purpose is to cleanse, maintain, and enhance the quality of the nation’s water resources.

Question 9

Effluent Standards

Answer 9

Technology-based standards imposed on major industrial sources of water pollution.

Question 10

Clean Air Act

Answer 10

A statute whose purpose is to cleanse, maintain, and enhance the quality of the nation’s air resources.

Question 11

National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)

Answer 11

Standards set by the EPA concerning air pollutants.

Question 12

Criteria Pollutants.

Answer 12

A EPA-promulgated national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS), including sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxide, carbon monoxide, ozone, particulates, and lead.

Question 13

State Implementation Plans (SIPs)

Answer 13

A plan formulated by a state in order to meet the NAAQS.

Question 14

Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) Regions

Answer 14

Under the 1977 amendments to the Clean Air Act, the air quality control regions that attained national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS).

Question 15

Indoor Pollution

Answer 15

Pollution within buildings that is recognized as a health problem.

Question 16

Environmental Tobacco Smoke

Answer 16

Refers to the exposure of smokers and nonsmokers to the unhealthy effects of tobacco smoke in various environments

Question 17

Sick Building Syndrome

Answer 17

Acute health problems as a result of spending time in a building.

Question 18

Green Development

Answer 18

A form of development that integrates financial, environmental, and social considerations in projects. (Features can include: energy conservation, minimizing water usage, recycling, etc.)

Question 19

Smart Growth

Answer 19

A development movement that emphasizes a pedestrian orientation, mixed residential and commercial uses, and protection of the environment.

Question 20

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)

Answer 20

A green building rating system created by the US Green Building Council.